Former Newtown Oil operator faces new federal charges

By Dirk Perrefort, Staff Writer

Published 12:42 pm, Monday, October 19, 2009

DANBURY -- The wife of the former owner of the now-defunct Newtown Oil Co. faces new federal charges for allegedly defrauding financial institutions of more than $3.5 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The federal indictment was handed down last week against Heather Bliss, 34, of Norwalk.

Last year Bliss, along with her husband, William Trudeau, was found guilty of larceny in the bilking of Newtown Oil customers.

Bliss is charged in the new indictment with three counts of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, according to court papers.

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The indictment alleges Bliss and her unnamed co-conspirators submitted false mortgage loan applications while she was working as a paralegal for a Wilton real estate attorney.

Bliss and the others, according to court documents, allegedly submitted the false applications to obtain mortgages on Fairfield County properties to develop and sell for a profit.

The indictment alleges the activity occurred between April 2006 and April 2007, well before Bliss entered a plea to the state larceny charges last fall.

State's Attorney Stephen Sedensky said because the alleged fraudulent activities took place before Bliss entered a plea in state court, the charges likely won't result in a violation of her probation.

Bliss and Trudeau pleaded guilty under the Alford Doctrine last year to larceny charges for bilking customers of Newtown Oil out of thousands of dollars. A plea under the doctrine means a defendant does not admit guilt but agrees the state has enough evidence for a conviction.

At the time, the couple received suspended prison sentences after agreeing to make restitution to their victims of more than $121,000.

The couple also reached a settlement in a related civil case with the state Attorney General's Office to pay more than $262,000 to about 1,400 Newtown Oil customers.

Sedensky said Bliss and Trudeau have been "on schedule in regards to the payment provisions, which is good for consumers."

Bliss entered a not guilty plea to the charges handed down last week and was released on a $250,000 bond.

The new charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, could result in fines of up to $7 million and up to 30 years in prison.